The FTSE 100 stock market index in the United Kingdom typically closes at 4:30 PM (16:30) London time (GMT/BST). However, it is possible to still trade the FTSE 100 when the main index is closed. In this guide, we will explain more about what happens when the FTSE 100 closes and how you can trade it.
FTSE 100 closing times around the world
The FTSE 100 closes at:
- 4:30 pm London time
- 11:30 am New York time
- 5:30 pm Paris time
- 23:30 pm Hong Kong time
- 01:30 am Sydney time
Related guide: What is the FTSE 100 index?
FTSE 100 closing auction
At the end of the FTSE 100 trading day on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) there is an end-of-day auction is known as the “Closing Auction” or “Closing Price Crossing Session.” This is designed to determine the closing price of the FTSE 100 index. It is also used for clients to execute MOC orders (market on close). There is often significantly more volume in the closing auction that throughout quite periods of the day, and it is a good session for larger orders to be matched.
During the Closing Auction, orders to buy and sell FTSE 100 constituent stocks are matched, and the prices at which these orders are matched help establish the official closing prices for those stocks. The closing price of each stock then contributes to the calculation of the FTSE 100 index’s closing level.
The closing prices determined during this auction are crucial for various market participants, including index funds and ETFs that track the FTSE 100, as they rely on the official closing level to value their portfolios accurately.
- Related guide: How to invest in the FTSE 100?
Days when the FTSE 100 is closed
The FTSE 100 follows the same general trading calendar as the London Stock Exchange (LSE). The LSE is typically closed on the following days in the United Kingdom:
- Weekends: The FTSE 100 is closed on Saturdays and Sundays. However, you can trade the UKX with an CFD of spread betting brokers like IG that offers weekend markets.
- Bank Holidays: The FTSE 100 index does not trade on public holidays in the UK, when the LSE is closed. These holidays may include New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Early May Bank Holiday, Spring Bank Holiday, Summer Bank Holiday, and Christmas Day, among others. The specific holidays may vary from year to year.
- Christmas and New Year Period: The FTSE 100 usually has reduced trading hours on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve and is closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Can you trade the FTSE 100 when the main markets are closed?
It is possible to trade the FTSE 100 even when the main market is closed through CFDs, financial spread betting and futures or options. Futures and options contracts for the FTSE 100 allow traders to speculate on the future price movements of the index even when the underlying cash market is closed. These derivatives are traded on futures and options exchanges and have their own trading hours, which can extend beyond the regular trading hours of the cash market.
If you are trading the FTSE outside of normal market hours there are a two things to be aware of
- Liquidity: There will be less volume traded, so it will be harder to execute larger orders.
- Volatility: Because of reduced volume, large orders will have a greater effect on price and move the market more.
Interest in trading the FTSE? Compare the best FTSE 100 trading platforms here.
Richard is the founder of the Good Money Guide (formerly Good Broker Guide), one of the original investment comparison sites established in 2015. With a career spanning two decades as a broker, he brings extensive expertise and knowledge to the financial landscape.
Having worked as a broker at Investors Intelligence and a multi-asset derivatives broker at MF Global (Man Financial), Richard has acquired substantial experience in the industry. His career began as a private client stockbroker at Walker Crips and Phillip Securities (now King and Shaxson), following internships on the NYMEX oil trading floor in New York and London IPE in 2001 and 2000.
Richard’s contributions and expertise have been recognized by respected publications such as BusinessInsider, Yahoo Finance, BusinessNews.org.uk, Master Investor, Wealth Briefing, iNews, and The FT, among many others.
Under Richard’s leadership, the Good Money Guide has evolved into a valuable destination for comprehensive information and expert guidance, specialising in trading, investment, and currency exchange. His commitment to delivering high-quality insights has solidified the Good Money Guide’s standing as a well-respected resource for both customers and industry colleagues.
